English Proficiency Policy

English proficiency is needed for students to be successful when completing an academic degree in the United States. All international applicants, other visa holders, permanent residents, and applicants whose native language* is not English, must be proficient in English as a requirement to enroll in courses for credit at Oakland University. Such applicants will be required to demonstrate English proficiency by meeting one of the following conditions listed below.

Some programs at Oakland University may require a higher level of proficiency than listed. Applicants should examine the program description for their field of study for information about additional English proficiency requirements and furnish proof as part of the admission process. Please visit the ESL Institute and Undergraduate Admissions for additional information.

Full Admission

One of the following constitutes proof:

1.	TOEFL	79 minimum on internet-based TOEFL
		or 4.5 minimum on new TOEFL scale (effective January 21, 2026)
2.	MELAB	77 minimum
3.	IELTS	6.5 minimum
4.	PTE Academic	53 minimum
5.	Duolingo English Test	100 minimum
6.	24 transferable credits, from a U.S. community college or baccalaureate institution.
7.	A degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
8.	One year of study and a diploma from a U.S. high school.
9.	Completion of all coursework to earn a high school diploma at an institution outside of the U.S. where the language of instruction was English.
10.	Completion of three level 7 courses with a minimum of a B- in the ESL Institute at Oakland University.
11.	Completion of ESL Level 112 Intensive program.

The following criteria only apply to students who do not hold and are not seeking an F or a J visa to study at Oakland University.

Applicant has worked full-time in the United States for at least three years in an English speaking environment. Evidence must be provided such as a letter of support from human resources to confirm employment.
Applicant has worked full-time for at least three years in an English speaking environment outside of the United States. Evidence must be provided such as a letter of support from Human Resources that confirms English as the primary language of written and oral communication.
A letter of support or comment from the ESL Institute at Oakland University based on an interview and completion of the ESL placement test.

Admission with ESL coursework

Applicants, who are eligible for admission AND provide evidence of the following scores, will be permitted to enroll in the Global Achievement Pathway Program (GAPP) which permits students to simultaneously enroll in the ESL course sequence, as determined by the ESL Institute, and academic program courses. Enrollment in GAPP will be for one or two semesters. Students must register for ESL courses as part of their coursework starting in their first semester of registration. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable. Students not making satisfactory progress in the ESL course sequence or academic program are subject to dismissal from their program.

Global Achievement Pathway Program for One Semester (GAPP - 1)

One of the following constitutes proof:
1.	TOEFL	69-78 on internet-based TOEFL with a minimum section score of 16
		or 4.0 minimum on new TOEFL scale (effective January 21, 2026)
2.	MELAB	73-76
3.	IELTS	6.0 with a minimum section score of 5.5
4.	PTE Academic	48-52
5.	Duolingo English Test	95

Students must register for ESL courses as part of their coursework starting in their first semester of registration. ESL placement is done by the English as a Second Language Institute (ESL Institute) using the ESL Online Placement Test and other assessment tools. During students’ ESL instruction sequence, students’ English Proficiency will be evaluated to determine whether adequate progress is being made and if additional ESL coursework is necessary to achieve English Proficiency. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable.

Satisfactory completion of the ESL instruction sequence is expected within one year, but ESL coursework is required until minimum proficiency is demonstrated.

Global Achievement Pathway Program for Two Semesters (GAPP - 2)

One of the following constitutes proof:

1.	TOEFL	62-68 on internet-based TOEFL
		or 3.5 minimum on new TOEFL scale (effective January 21, 2026)
2.	IELTS	6.0
3.	PTE Academic	44-47
4.	Duolingo English Test	90

Admission to Intensive English Program

Prospective students who do not have adequate English proficiency for admission or admission with ESL coursework to the university can be admitted to the Intensive English Program. ESL placement is done by the English as a Second Language Institute (ESL Institute) using the ESL Online Placement Test and other assessment tools. During the students’ ESL instruction sequence, students’ English proficiency will be evaluated to determine whether adequate progress is being made and if additional ESL coursework is necessary to achieve English proficiency. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable.

Upon completion of the Intensive English Program, students may (re)apply for admission to Oakland University; applicants are evaluated using the admission criteria described above.

* A native language is a language that is acquired naturally during childhood and is usually spoken at home, as opposed to a language that is learned later in life, for example as a part of a person’s formal education. Students whose native language is not English are encouraged to visit the English as a Second Language Institute to discuss any language difficulties they may have while attending Oakland University.